I am trying to find the origin &/or meaning of the surname "Kodadek". I'm told by my Czech mother-in-law that it is a common name, but haven't been able to find any information. Can anybody help? Thanks! ofie
I can't find a single instance of the surname "Kodadek." I found 177 instances of Kodad, 56 of Kodada, and 233 of Kodadová, which is the feminine variant of the first two (source: http://www.mvcr.cz/statistiky/jmena/muzi_p/24.html and http://www.mvcr.cz/statistiky/jmena/zeny_p/24.html). Kodadek (Kodadková) would be the diminutive form of these surnames. I'm not sure what they mean, however.
Most probably, the surname Kodadek (or Kodádek) is derived from the verb ,,kodásati" (obsolete) = žvaniti, tlachati, i. e. to prattle, blether, tattle; so it would be Tattler in English.
I found 16 instances of Kodádek and 21 instances of Kodádková in the Central Registry. Then it is not so common name. The verb kodásati (or kocati < kodsati) is an intensivum of the verb kodati, hence the noun kodada and dimin. kodádek. The verb kodati is now nearly forgotten and not in use.
